Owners of Xiaomi devices, including sub-brands Redmi and POCO, periodically face various software failures, this can be an endless reboot, stuck on the logo or the appearance of the Mi Recovery screen.
Before we take any radical action, we need to understand the nature of the conflict that has arisen, often because of a failed update, a memory overflow, or a conflict of newly installed applications, and understanding the root cause allows us to choose the most efficient and safest algorithm for restoring the functionality of the gadget.
In this article, we will take a look at all possible crash scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions for fixing them, and you will learn how to safely restart your device, clear your cache, or perform a complete data reset, while saving critical files if possible.
Diagnosis of the device state and primary actions
The first step in solving any Android smartphone problem is to diagnose correctly, and if the screen goes out and lights up again, or the device reacts to a long-latency touch, it indicates a temporary failure in RAM or the processor, in which case a forced reboot helps, which resets the temporal processes.
To perform a hard restart, you need to press the power button and hold it for 10-15 seconds. If the device does not respond, try the Loudness Down + Power button combination, which simulates battery extraction and often allows you to get out of deep sleep or freeze.
Pay special attention to charge indicators: If the phone is not turning on and not responding to buttons, the battery may have run out or the power controller has failed, plug in the original charger and leave the gadget for 30-40 minutes, even if the screen remains black.
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Use only the original cable and power supply when diagnosing, as cheap analogues may not supply enough current to start the system.
If the problem persists after the reboot, analyze previous events. Installing an unknown application, an interrupted system update, or a mechanical fall can provide the clue. Error logging is not available in this case, so rely on external signs.
Resolving Boot and Cyclical Reboot Problems
A situation where a smartphone is constantly rebooted without reaching the desktop is called bootloop. This is a common occurrence after unsuccessful experiments with firmware or when system files are damaged. Attempting to log in in in this mode is impossible, you need intervention through the recovery menu.
To enter Recovery mode, turn the device off completely. Then simultaneously press the Volume Up + Power buttons. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button, while continuing to hold the volume, you will see a menu with English text and, usually, an orange or blue cap.
Navigation in this menu is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice is confirmed by the power button. First of all, try to select Reboot and then Reboot to System. Sometimes a single restart is enough to make the bootloader correctly count the paths to the system files.
☑️ Pre-reset check
If a simple reboot doesn't work, move to a deeper cleanup. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data. Here, it's important not to confuse the options: Wipe All Data will completely delete all files, and Clean Cache will only affect temporary files. Start by clearing the cache, it's safe for user data.
⚠️ Warning: Executing the Wipe All Data command will result in the complete removal of all photos, contacts and apps. Make sure you have a backup or data synced to the cloud.
Working with the Mi Recovery menu: reset and cleanup
The Mi Recovery menu is a powerful tool for fixing Xiaomi software errors, allowing not only data to be reset, but also connecting the device to a computer for safe mode or flashing. The interface may vary depending on the version of MIUI or HyperOS.
In the newer versions of the shells, navigation has become touch-sensitive, which simplifies the process. However, in the classic menu, control remains button-based. If you plan to reset to Factory Reset, select the appropriate item and confirm the action by entering the word yes or selecting Confirm.
The cleaning process takes between 2 and 10 minutes depending on the amount of information you have accumulated, and do not interrupt the process or turn off the device until the successful completion message appears on the screen, and then select Reboot to start the system.
What to do if the Recovery menu is in Chinese?
Once reset, the device starts as new, requires initial setup, Wi-Fi connection, and Mi Account login, and if the phone has been locked by anti-theft protection, without entering the password from the account it was previously linked to, you won't be able to log in.
Fastboot mode and flashing the device
When software errors are critical and Recovery doesn't work, Fastboot mode is used, in which the phone receives commands directly, bypassing the operating system, and is the primary method for restoring bricks or rolling back to a more stable version of the software.
To enter the Fastboot, press the buttons Volume down + Power on the device turned off. The screen will show an image of a hare repairing an android, or the inscription FASTBOOT. To exit this mode, usually long enough to hold the power button (about 15 seconds).
To work in this mode, the computer must have the Mi Flash Tool and the corresponding drivers installed. The flashing process requires downloading the full system image (ROM) for your particular model. It is important to download the firmware specifically for your region (Global, EU, CN), otherwise there may be problems with communication and language.
| Type of firmware | Method of installation | Data retention | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recovery ROM | Through the menu Update | Preserve. | Low. |
| Fastboot ROM | Through the Mi Flash Tool | Removed (Clean) | Medium |
| EDL Mode | Through a service account | Removed | Tall. |
| TWRP Custom | Through Fastboot/Recovery | Depends on the backup. | Tall. |
When you run through Fastboot, it is important to unlock the bootloader. Without unlocking, you can't install global firmware on the Chinese version or roll back to an older version of Android. Unlocking requires a wait of 7 to 168 hours after you submit your application in the Mi Unlock app.
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Using Fastboot is the most reliable way to fix software bugs, but it requires a PC and a stable internet connection.
Update errors and memory shortage
A common cause of failure is a trivial lack of space. Android requires free space to create temporary files and cache. If the memory is more than 90% full, the device may start to work unstable or give errors when trying to upgrade.
Check the space occupied in the Settings → Memory section. If there is less than 2-3 GB of free space, delete unnecessary videos, heavy apps, or transfer files to your computer. Clearing the cache of apps like Telegram or WhatsApp can also free up gigabytes of space.
If the error occurs directly during the update process (OTA), try cleaning the bootloader cache. To do this, select Connect with MIAssistant (if available) from the Recovery menu or simply clear the cache. In some cases, the manual way to update through the firmware file downloaded from the official website helps.
⚠️ Warning: Never interrupt the system update process. If the battery dies while writing system partitions, the phone can turn into a brick, the restoration of which will require paid services of the service center.
When a service center is needed
Not all errors can be fixed software. If the device is heated when it's off, emits extraneous sounds or has visible damage to the board, hardware repair is required (eMMC/UFS), which is manifested in constant hanging even after complete resetting.
Symptoms of hardware failure often include colored bars on the screen, spontaneous switching ons or inability to charge the battery (although the indicator may show the process), in such cases, software methods are powerless and can only make the situation worse.
If the phone is warranty, any self-opening or flashing attempt may deprive you of warranty service.